H.S. girls basketball: Ramapo upsets Ridgefield Park

By MARK J. CZERWINSKI

STAFF WRITER |

The Record

RIDGEFIELD PARK — Cinderella has officially arrived at the Bergen County girls basketball tournament, all decked out in a rather unfamiliar uniform.

Perennial title contender Ramapo, now seeded No. 12 and sporting a lineup full of tournament newbies, shocked No. 5 Ridgefield Park, 54-33, in the round of 16 at Ridgefield Park High School. The loss snapped the Scarlets' 29 home game winning streak dating to 2011, and ended an 11-game overall streak this season.

"They didn't have us going past this game," said Karlie Brogan, who led the Green Raiders with 16 points. "That just made us hungrier."

Ramapo came out shooting and put the Scarlets (15-2) in an early hole. The most impressive thing about the Green Raiders is the way everyone up and down the lineup stepped up to make a key contribution.

"We don't have any superstars," said Ramapo coach Sandy Gordon. "I keep telling them that we are what we are because everyone does their part."

The Green Raiders have also emerged as one of North Jersey's premier defensive teams. They have held teams to 40 points or less 12 times this season.

Freshman forward Emily Calabrese came off the bench to score seven points, grab nine rebounds and block a shot for Ramapo. Marina Pappas added eight points and five rebounds.

Ridgefield Park star center Katherine Haines, who missed three games with a sore leg, was back in the lineup for the Scarlets. She looked uncomfortable at times, but still had 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocked shots.

The Green Raiders (11-3) face Northern Highlands in the quarterfinals Sunday at River Dell High School. The Highlanders already beat them this season, and they play again Thursday for first place in the Big North Freedom Division.

"Our kids are playing with a little chip on their shoulders," Gordon said. "There's no pressure on us. We're not supposed to be here,"

NORTHERN HIGHLANDS 42, OLD TAPPAN 35: Junior center Melissa Heath had 11 points, 17 rebounds and four blocked shots to lead the No. 4 Highlanders in a game that was very close until the fourth quarter.

"We gave it everything we had, and it was a seven-point game," said Northern Highlands coach Al Albanese. "We beat them by 20 in the Joe Poli Tournament, but I told the girls all along that you don't go by what happened early in the season."

Senior guard Melissa Dunbar added 10 points for Highlands. Sophomore guard Emily Crevani had 14 points and nine rebounds for the Golden Knights, who didn't hit a field goal in the fourth quarter until the final minute.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION 53, INDIAN HILLS 44: The No. 2 Blue Wolves trailed most of the game, but avoided a major upset with a strong fourth quarter to hold off the No. 15 Braves.

IC junior Samantha Fuehring, North Jersey's leading scorer, didn't hit a field goal in the first half, but finished with a team-high 13 points. Jasmine Gee had 12 points and nine rebounds while Nicole Skelly came off the bench to hit four three-pointers and help spark the comeback.

The Braves connected on 10 three-pointers, including four by Emily Shlapak. Jules Oehrlein led the Braves with 14 points, and Julia Ferraro grabbed nine rebounds.

WESTWOOD 61, MIDLAND PARK 54: Samantha McClutchy had 17 points and six rebounds as the No. 10 Cardinals upset the No. 7 Panthers to reach the quarterfinals for the second time in program history.

Emily Molk added 12 points for Westwood, which last reached the quarters in 1988.

Nicole Cartaino led Midland Park with a game-high 17 points and seven rebounds.

IHA 50, PASCACK VALLEY 29: The top-seeded Blue Eagles opened the second half with a 12-0 run to pull away from the Indians and advance to the county quarterfinals. Lindsey Rogers had six of her game-high 16 points during the run.

SADDLE RIVER DAY 56, DEMAREST 43: The Rebels never trailed, jumping ahead 8-2, and repelled every charge by the Norsewomen to move into the county quarterfinals. Saddle River Day led by only one at the half, but began the second half with a 10-1 burst. The victory sets up a quarterfinal matchup with top-seed IHA, and a battle of sisters with Kayla Oge (Saddle River Day) and Katia Oge (IHA).

TEANECK 54, PASCACK HILLS 25: Hannah Ashby, Faith Ashby and Milan Johnson all hit three-pointers in the first quarter as the Highwaywomen built a comfortable lead. Teaneck senior center Kayla Gibbs put in 22 points to lead all scorers.

H.S. girls basketball: Ramapo upsets Ridgefield Park

RIDGEFIELD PARK — Cinderella has officially arrived at the Bergen County girls basketball tournament, all decked out in a rather unfamiliar uniform.

Perennial title contender Ramapo, now seeded No. 12 and sporting a lineup full of tournament newbies, shocked No. 5 Ridgefield Park, 54-33, in the round of 16 at Ridgefield Park High School. The loss snapped the Scarlets' 29 home game winning streak dating to 2011, and ended an 11-game overall streak this season.

"They didn't have us going past this game," said Karlie Brogan, who led the Green Raiders with 16 points. "That just made us hungrier."

Ramapo came out shooting and put the Scarlets (15-2) in an early hole. The most impressive thing about the Green Raiders is the way everyone up and down the lineup stepped up to make a key contribution.

"We don't have any superstars," said Ramapo coach Sandy Gordon. "I keep telling them that we are what we are because everyone does their part."

The Green Raiders have also emerged as one of North Jersey's premier defensive teams. They have held teams to 40 points or less 12 times this season.

Freshman forward Emily Calabrese came off the bench to score seven points, grab nine rebounds and block a shot for Ramapo. Marina Pappas added eight points and five rebounds.

Ridgefield Park star center Katherine Haines, who missed three games with a sore leg, was back in the lineup for the Scarlets. She looked uncomfortable at times, but still had 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocked shots.

The Green Raiders (11-3) face Northern Highlands in the quarterfinals Sunday at River Dell High School. The Highlanders already beat them this season, and they play again Thursday for first place in the Big North Freedom Division.

"Our kids are playing with a little chip on their shoulders," Gordon said. "There's no pressure on us. We're not supposed to be here,"

NORTHERN HIGHLANDS 42, OLD TAPPAN 35: Junior center Melissa Heath had 11 points, 17 rebounds and four blocked shots to lead the No. 4 Highlanders in a game that was very close until the fourth quarter.

"We gave it everything we had, and it was a seven-point game," said Northern Highlands coach Al Albanese. "We beat them by 20 in the Joe Poli Tournament, but I told the girls all along that you don't go by what happened early in the season."

Senior guard Melissa Dunbar added 10 points for Highlands. Sophomore guard Emily Crevani had 14 points and nine rebounds for the Golden Knights, who didn't hit a field goal in the fourth quarter until the final minute.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION 53, INDIAN HILLS 44: The No. 2 Blue Wolves trailed most of the game, but avoided a major upset with a strong fourth quarter to hold off the No. 15 Braves.

IC junior Samantha Fuehring, North Jersey's leading scorer, didn't hit a field goal in the first half, but finished with a team-high 13 points. Jasmine Gee had 12 points and nine rebounds while Nicole Skelly came off the bench to hit four three-pointers and help spark the comeback.

The Braves connected on 10 three-pointers, including four by Emily Shlapak. Jules Oehrlein led the Braves with 14 points, and Julia Ferraro grabbed nine rebounds.

WESTWOOD 61, MIDLAND PARK 54: Samantha McClutchy had 17 points and six rebounds as the No. 10 Cardinals upset the No. 7 Panthers to reach the quarterfinals for the second time in program history.

Emily Molk added 12 points for Westwood, which last reached the quarters in 1988.

Nicole Cartaino led Midland Park with a game-high 17 points and seven rebounds.

IHA 50, PASCACK VALLEY 29: The top-seeded Blue Eagles opened the second half with a 12-0 run to pull away from the Indians and advance to the county quarterfinals. Lindsey Rogers had six of her game-high 16 points during the run.

SADDLE RIVER DAY 56, DEMAREST 43: The Rebels never trailed, jumping ahead 8-2, and repelled every charge by the Norsewomen to move into the county quarterfinals. Saddle River Day led by only one at the half, but began the second half with a 10-1 burst. The victory sets up a quarterfinal matchup with top-seed IHA, and a battle of sisters with Kayla Oge (Saddle River Day) and Katia Oge (IHA).